The tale of two traffic signals

After telling my wife that I would not be at home for lunch, I got into the car and started driving. Not many vehicles were on the road as it was a weekend.

My friend had come from the US and he had invited me to his house for lunch. I knew that along with me many of our common friends would also be there.

After five minutes of driving I came across a traffic signal. Noticed that the red light was on, stopped and waited for the green light to glow. I heard honking of horn from the back. Turning back found that a taxi driver was irritated. He rudely gestured at me to go ahead. I was amused. Lowering the window glasses, I said “ Please have some patience and wait until green light starts”.

The taxi driver shouted back “Are you not finding the road empty? Why are you stopping? Go ahead and do not waste my time”.

I replied “This is not correct. Whether the road is empty or full, we should follow traffic rules and wait for our turn until the light turns green”.

Within few seconds the light turned green and I started. The taxi driver raced ahead of me and suddenly  halted his car in front of mine. I stopped. He got down and came near my window and said “From which country have you come? Is it America, Australia or Europe?”

I was amused and I replied “I am from India and I stay in this city”

He laughed and said “It is because of people like you that our traffic is bad. There is no need to stop at a signal if the road is empty. The duty of the light is to show red and your duty is to keep going. ”

I had no answer for his statement. I kept quiet. Cursing me that guy got into his car and drove away.

I continued driving and maintained a steady speed of 60 kilometers per hour. Suddenly I saw a young lady running across the road. I applied brakes immediately. She was taken aback and ran back. I thanked my stars as I did not hit her. I lowered the window glasses and asked her to cross the road. She refused and said “you go ahead and after you pass, I shall cross”.

I replied “Madam I have already stopped the car. Please cross the road now”.

She continued “I am unable to judge the way vehicles move on the road. Whenever I am crossing the road, I find people increase the speed of their vehicles. It appears as if they are racing with me. You stopping the vehicle has come as a surprise to me.”

I smiled and said “Young lady please cross the road. I shall wait and then move”. She thanked me and crossed.

Few minutes later I came across the busiest traffic junction in the city. To my surprise I found total chaos out there. No one was minding the traffic signal. I looked around and found that there was no traffic policeman. Maybe it was his weekly off. All the vehicles were competing with one another to cross the junction. No one was willing to give it. There was a self created traffic jam.

I had no other option but to wait for better sense to prevail. I realized that democracy was at its best form there. No restrictions were around and people were going in any direction they wanted to. It was full freedom at its best.

After about ten minutes I could squeeze my car though the jam. I was relieved when I reached my friend’s house. I got down from the car and entered his house wishing him.

Few of my other friends were already sitting there. I narrated them the experiences I had between the two traffic signals.

My friend from the US said “You are a very tough driver. You are able to negotiate such touch driving conditions. You can drive very well in any city in the world”

I corrected him by saying “You are wrong my dear friend. In fact driving amongst people with such driving sense makes me unfit to drive in any other city where basic rules of traffic are followed”.

My friend laughed and said “Make this experience a part of your Narrations”.

I looked around and saw the book “Tale of two cities” by Charles Dickens on the table.

I replied “It would be a good experience to write and I shall call it the tale of two traffic signals”